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Date: 29 March 2024

Time: 14:53

Clinical laboratory services: clinical microbiology

Clinical microbiology provides comprehensive bacteriology, virology, parasitology, and mycology services.

The department is CPA accredited and participates fully in external quality assurance schemes for the full repertoire of tests.
The department is based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and has a satellite laboratory at the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic in Whittall Street, Birmingham. There are 50 scientific, support and clerical staff offering a 24-hour diagnostic and monitoring service for routine and urgent detection of patient infection, e.g. meningitis, hepatitis and MRSA infections caused by bacterial, viral and fungal agents, using specialised automated and manual techniques.

In addition to the Trust, diagnostic, monitoring and advisory services are provided to South Birmingham Community and Mental Health trusts, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and 150 GP practices. The department also provides specialist services to other hospitals in the West Midlands.

The laboratory has close links with the transplant specialties/co-ordinators to organise the screening of donors for infectious diseases prior to transplantation of donated organs. The laboratory provides a comprehensive range of diagnostic services for the detection of sexually transmitted diseases including gonorrhoea and chlamydia at the Genito Urinary Medicine Clinic.
The service also includes a range of environmental screening to determine the potable quality of drinking water and to detect Legionella in water supplies to the Trust, South Birmingham Community Trust, the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital and other sites for water engineering companies in the West Midlands.

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